My generation knows him mainly for being B-Movie royalty in such hits as Nightmare on Elm Street, Black Christmas and Battle Beyond Stars. But John was much, much more than that. He originally started out in more mainstream movies in the Fifties with Debbie Reynolds and then on to Westerns/WWII stuff with Marlon Brando, Clint Eastwood and Robert Redford.
He’ll live forever with having a role in Bruce Lee’s epic Kung Fu flick Enter the Dragon, a part he earned thanks to his black belt in karate.
John was somebody willing to work and wanted to play so many roles, which he did. The man has over 200 credits to his career. Being bi-lingual in Italian, he even got work in Europe doing those Seventies Horror movies usually called giallo.
Thanks for everything John/Carmine! Seeing your face in a movie told the audience, hey, no matter what else is happening, you’re going to see a quality performance from at least actor in this Roger Corman schlock!